Ultrasound Gets To Meat Of Livestock

Livestock producers can tell just how lean their animals are with a technology that has been used on humans for 30 years.

Ultrasound reveals the quality of an animal's meat while it is growing so its diet can be adjusted to meet the demands of the marketplace.

Recent advances have made ultrasound practical for use by the livestock industry. Sound waves are beamed into an animal's body, and echoes from its tissues bounce back and are recorded as pictures. What makes this unique over previous measurement practices is that it is done on live animals, allowing producers to predict characteristics of an animal and estimate the quality of its meat at market time. This reduces the time to market for animals that otherwise might be fed longer than is necessary.

Ultrasound equipment is expensive and great skill is required. It is not practical for producers themselves to use the technology, but University of Florida and the Florida Beef Cattle Improvement Association are providing the service for cattle and swine producers to maximize market potentials. For further information, call Sharon Fox, county extension livestock agent, at (904) 736-0624; 257-6000, Ext. 2278; or 423-3368.